Noone has challenged democracy: Minister Baskota

KATHMANDU, August 6: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota, said talks mentioning that democracy was in crisis just reflected the psychology to create unnecessary fear among the mass.

Speaking at a press meet organized by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Dhanusha chapter here today, he urged the people not to be guided by such fear psychology. None has challenged democracy at home and a story that democracy was in crisis was built just to delude the mass, according to him. In his response to a journalists' query, the government Spokesperson claimed the government had not committed any act against the good interest of media and it had come up with a concept of regulating media to make the Nepali Press more credible through the exercise of democratic practices.

Stating the Media Council Bill would definitely come, he drew the attention of all towards the realization that a culture delusion would never push Nepali journalism toward progress. He added the government had always a progressive approach for the good interests of journalists and the conventional ways would stop journalism from further flourishing.

On a different note, he went on to say that the federal government did not have any bias against the State 2 and projects had been implemented for the overall development of the entire Terai region. He spoke of the need of making initiations to fulfill promises made before the people. The minister utilized the moment to call on the Nepali media to give attention to the coverage of development news as well as supporting right and condemning wrong attitudes and practices.

Underlining the need of investigative journalism capable of creating public enthusiasm towards development, progress and progressive national agenda, Minister Baskota highlighted the need of intervention from the both federal and State governments in widespread encroachment on the Chure region. FNJ chapter chair Anil Mishra chaired the program